Nikolas closed the office door behind them.
Brittany turned toward him immediately.
"Don't lie to me."
Nikolas stared at her.
"You and Damien. Andrew. You three haven't fallen apart."
His expression hardened.
Brittany stepped closer.
"The fights, the distance, the way you acted at the hospital... it's all an act, isn't it?"
Nikolas said nothing.
"That means someone is watching you," she continued. "And you want them to believe Trio Fire is completely broken."
Nikolas's silence was enough.
Brittany's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you putting on this show for?"
"Brittany—"
"No." She shook her head. "I'm not asking anymore. I want the truth."
Nikolas moved closer.
"The less you know, the safer you are."
She gave a bitter laugh.
"That's exactly what everyone keeps telling me."
Her voice hardened.
"If you don't tell me, Nikolas, I might search for the answers myself. And I might end up like Catherine... or worse, dead."
Nikolas's expression changed instantly.
"Don't say that."
"Then tell me the truth."
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Brittany held his gaze.
"So I was right."
Nikolas finally spoke.
"Trio Fire hasn't fallen apart."
Brittany's breath caught.
"We're making someone believe that it has."
"Who?"
Nikolas looked toward the closed door.
"That's what we're trying to find out."
Arthur's Office — Evening
Arthur sat behind his desk, going through the documents in front of him.
A faint smile crossed his face.
Everything was moving exactly as he had planned.
The Sinclair family's proposal had given him an opportunity he hadn't expected. If he married Lenora, he would gain something far more valuable than a marriage alliance—Robert Sinclair's trust, influence, and power.
But there was one problem.
Robert.
Arthur knew his brother-in-law-to-be might change his mind before the marriage was finalized. If Robert decided that Lenora shouldn't marry him, the entire arrangement could collapse.
Arthur leaned back in his chair.
He couldn't allow that.
His secretary entered the office with a file.
"Sir, these documents need your signature."
"Leave them here."
She placed the file on his desk.
Arthur looked at her for a moment.
"Stay."
She stopped.
Arthur stood and walked around the desk.
He pulled her closer and kissed her.
It wasn't about affection.
It was a calculated move.
Arthur already knew Lenora was coming to see him.
And he wanted her to see this.
A few minutes later, footsteps approached the office.
Lenora appeared at the doorway.
She stopped.
Her eyes immediately fell on Arthur and his secretary.
Arthur saw her.
He didn't stop immediately.
Lenora's expression tightened.
Jealousy flashed across her face before she could hide it.
Finally, Arthur pulled away.
His secretary stepped back awkwardly.
"Sir…"
Arthur simply nodded toward the door.
She left.
Lenora remained silent.
Arthur calmly returned to his desk and adjusted his cufflinks as though nothing unusual had happened.
Lenora finally spoke.
"So this is how you spend your evenings?"
Arthur looked at her.
"You came without announcing yourself."
"I didn't know I needed an appointment to see the man I'm supposed to marry."
Arthur's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Supposed to?"
Lenora looked away for a moment.
Then her eyes returned to him.
"Is this what I should expect if I become your wife?"
Arthur studied her.
Then he gave a quiet, almost amused smile.
"Your brother might not want you to become my wife."
Lenora frowned.
"What does Robert have to do with this?"
"Everything."
Arthur walked toward her.
"You know your brother."
Lenora remained silent.
"If Robert decides this marriage isn't right, he'll try to stop it."
Arthur stopped in front of her.
"And I don't think you will go beyond his word and marry me."
Lenora's face changed.
"You're wrong."
"Am I?"
"You think I will simply do whatever Robert tells me?"
Arthur's gaze remained steady.
"I think his opinion matters to you."
Lenora clenched her hands.
Arthur continued calmly.
"Perhaps that's why you're standing here now, asking me about another woman instead of asking yourself why your brother might change his mind."
Lenora stared at him.
"You did that deliberately."
Arthur's faint smile returned.
"Perhaps."
"You wanted me to see you with her."
"I wanted you to think."
Lenora's jealousy was no longer hidden.
Arthur had gotten exactly what he wanted.
He stepped aside and opened the door for her.
"Think carefully, Lenora."
She looked at him one last time before walking away.
Arthur watched her leave.
He had no intention of letting Robert destroy his plan.
If Robert wanted to control Lenora's decision, Arthur would simply give Lenora a reason to make the decision herself.
Michael's Apartment — Night
The moment they stepped inside, Michael closed the door behind them.
The silence that followed felt different from the silence at the hospital.
There were no doctors.
No families.
No questions.
Just the two of them.
Andrew turned around and looked at Michael.
For a moment, he simply stared at him.
Then he walked closer.
"You scared me today."
Michael lowered his eyes.
"I didn't mean to."
"I know."
Andrew reached for his hand.
"But when you called me and told me what you heard..." His voice cracked slightly. "For a moment, I thought something had happened to you too."
Michael looked at him.
"I saw what they were talking about, Andrew. They weren't talking about an accident."
"I know."
"They were talking about Catherine."
Andrew nodded.
"And that's what scares me."
Michael squeezed his hand.
"Then don't carry it alone."
Andrew looked at him quietly.
"You always say that."
"Because you always try to."
A faint smile appeared on Andrew's face, but it disappeared almost immediately.
"I don't know what we're dealing with anymore."
Michael stepped closer.
"You don't have to know tonight."
Andrew's eyes softened.
"I've spent so long pretending nothing can break me."
Michael touched his face gently.
"You don't have to pretend with me."
Those words finally broke through Andrew's walls.
He pulled Michael into his arms and held him tightly.
Michael wrapped his arms around him, letting Andrew bury his face against his shoulder.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Andrew's grip tightened.
"I was so afraid," he whispered.
Michael closed his eyes.
"I'm here."
Andrew pulled back just enough to look at him.
"I don't want to lose you."
"You won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I'm not going anywhere."
Andrew looked into his eyes, searching for even the smallest doubt.
There wasn't any.
He leaned down and kissed him softly.
Michael kissed him back, one hand resting against Andrew's chest.
The kiss carried more than desire.
It carried reassurance.
Fear.
Love.
The desperate need to know that, despite everything falling apart around them, they still had each other.
When they finally pulled away, Andrew rested his forehead against Michael's.
"Stay with me tonight."
Michael smiled softly.
"I was planning to."
Andrew closed his eyes.
For the first time that day, he allowed himself to breathe.
Catherine's Hospital Room — Late Night
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Damien sat beside Catherine's bed, his eyes fixed on her face.
He hadn't moved for hours.
The machines beside her continued their steady rhythm, each sound reminding him that she was still here.
Still breathing.
Still alive.
But barely conscious.
Damien had always hated hospitals.
They represented everything he couldn't control.
Illness.
Accidents.
Death.
And tonight, for the first time in his life, Damien Reed had nothing to command.
Nothing to threaten.
Nothing to buy.
Nothing to fix.
All he could do was wait.
His hand remained wrapped around Catherine's.
Her fingers were cold.
He rubbed them gently between his own.
"Come back to me," he whispered.
His voice was barely audible.
"You've frightened me enough."
Nothing.
Damien swallowed hard.
He leaned closer.
"You can be angry with me."
His eyes burned.
"You can scream at me. You can blame me for everything that happened."
His thumb moved slowly across the back of her hand.
"Just open your eyes."
A long silence followed.
Damien lowered his head.
For the first time, his shoulders looked heavy.
Not like the heir to the Reed Empire.
Not like the man who could make an entire room fall silent with one look.
Just a husband sitting beside the woman he was terrified of losing.
"I should have protected you."
His voice broke.
"I should have known."
He closed his eyes.
"Everyone thinks I know everything."
A bitter smile crossed his face.
"But I didn't know they were coming for you."
His fingers tightened around hers.
"And I hate myself for that."
A small movement came from the bed.
Damien froze.
His eyes immediately lifted.
Catherine's fingers moved slightly.
"Catherine?"
He leaned forward.
Her eyelashes trembled.
Damien stood so quickly that the chair moved backward.
"Catherine."
Her brows tightened faintly.
Then, slowly—
her eyes opened.
At first, her gaze was unfocused.
The ceiling blurred above her.
She tried to move.
Pain crossed her face.
Damien immediately pressed the call button.
"Don't move."
His voice was gentler than usual.
"Stay still."
Catherine blinked several times.
Then her eyes found him.
"Damien..."
The single word nearly destroyed him.
He took her hand again.
"I'm here."
Her eyes searched his face.
"You... stayed?"
Damien stared at her as though the question itself hurt.
"Of course I stayed."
Catherine's eyes filled with confusion.
"How long?"
"I don't know."
She noticed the exhaustion on his face.
"You look terrible."
A small, broken laugh escaped him.
"You almost died and you're worried about how I look?"
Catherine tried to smile.
But the effort made her wince.
Damien immediately leaned closer.
"Don't."
His hand moved carefully to her cheek.
"Don't try to smile."
His eyes were wet now.
Catherine stared at him.
She had never seen Damien like this.
Not completely.
Not without the walls.
Not without the coldness he used to protect himself.
"Damien..."
He shook his head.
"Don't say anything."
His voice trembled.
"Just let me look at you."
Catherine remained quiet.
Damien's thumb brushed gently beneath her eye.
"I thought I lost you."
His voice cracked.
Catherine's expression softened.
"You didn't."
"I know."
He swallowed.
"But for a few hours..."
He couldn't finish.
Catherine slowly lifted her hand.
Her fingers touched his face.
Damien closed his eyes at the contact.
"I was so afraid," he whispered.
Catherine's eyes widened slightly.
Damien Reed was admitting fear.
To her.
Only to her.
"I've never been afraid of losing anything."
He opened his eyes.
"Not money. Not power. Not the company. Not my name."
His gaze held hers.
"But when I saw you lying there..."
His voice broke completely.
"I realized none of it would mean anything if you weren't there."
Catherine's eyes filled with tears.
"Damien..."
He lowered his forehead against her hand.
"I should have told you."
"Told me what?"
"That I love you."
Catherine stopped breathing for a moment.
Damien lifted his head.
"I know I don't say it."
A tear finally escaped.
"And I know I've made you feel alone even when I was standing right beside you."
Catherine's lips trembled.
"But I love you."
He took her hand and pressed it against his chest.
"More than I know how to explain."
Catherine felt his heartbeat beneath her palm.
Fast.
Unsteady.
Human.
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then whispered,
"You're crying."
Damien gave a faint, helpless smile.
"Yes."
"I've never seen you cry."
"I've never had a reason like this before."
Catherine's eyes filled completely.
She pulled weakly at his hand.
Damien immediately leaned closer.
She touched his cheek again.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore."
Damien closed his eyes.
"I am."
Catherine smiled faintly.
"Then be afraid with me."
His eyes opened.
She whispered,
"You don't have to carry everything alone either."
For a moment, Damien said nothing.
Then he carefully bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"I won't."
He remained there, his forehead against hers.
Outside the room, the hospital continued moving.
Doctors walked through corridors.
Nurses checked charts.
Phones rang.
The world continued as if nothing had changed.
But inside that room, something had.
Damien had finally allowed Catherine to see the man behind the empire.
And Catherine had finally understood just how deeply he loved her.
The door opened quietly.
A doctor stepped inside.
Damien straightened but refused to release Catherine's hand.
The doctor checked the monitors and smiled faintly.
"She is responding well."
Damien's expression remained tense.
"Is she out of danger?"
"For now, yes. But she needs rest and observation."
Damien nodded.
"Whatever she needs."
The doctor left.
Catherine looked at him.
"You're not leaving, are you?"
Damien looked almost offended by the question.
"Not tonight."
A weak smile touched her lips.
"Good."
Damien sat back beside her.
Their hands remained intertwined.
And this time, neither of them let go.
Catherine's eyes suddenly opened again.
"Damien..."
"What is it?"
Her fingers tightened around his.
"Before I collapsed... someone was there."
Damien's expression changed.
"Who?"
Catherine swallowed.
"I don't know."
Her eyes filled with fear.
"But I remember what they said."